Despite Pentagon Misgivings, U.S. May Deliver “Significant Number” of Abrams Tanks to Ukraine

The U.S. could confirm the delivery “a significant number” M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine A U.S. official confirmed the news to Fox News Tuesday, as early as this week.

The U.S. has been fighting with Germany for weeks over which heavy tank to Ukraine, despite Russian threats to escalate their ground aggression. The Pentagon argued that Abrams tanks are more difficult to maintain and more costly to ship to Ukraine than Germany’s Leopard tanks. German Leopards have been stationed in Poland’s bordering Ukraine, for example.

Biden nevertheless moved forward on the issue after a January 17 phone call with Olaf Scholz from Germany. He is now leaning towards providing tanks. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

This news comes at a time when Germany was under increased pressure to deliver tanks. A deal would likely see Germany providing a smaller number Leopards and giving allies like Poland permission to share their German-built tanks with Ukraine.

LAWMAKERS CALL FOR SENDING ABRAMS TANKS TO UKRAINE AS RUSSIA WARNS OF ‘GLOBAL CATASTROPHE’

The US Abrams tanks spotted at Nowa Deba training ground, September 21, 2022. Nowa Deba is in Subcarpathian Voivodeship of Poland. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

British soldiers talk next to US Abrams tanks during the second day at joint military exercises at Nowa Deba (Poland), September 21, 2022. Widak/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Poland threatened to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine if Germany did not approve on Monday. Germany’s foreign minister had stated that Poland was threatening to do so. “would not” oppose.

US HOSTS ALLIED DEFENSE OFFICIALS AS RUSSIA PLANS FOR MASSIVE OFFENSIVE IN WEEKS AHEAD

As Russia’s invasion in Ukraine approaches the one-year mark, there is a new rush to help. Russia announced plans to double its military’s size to 1.5million troops by the end of the year through a series of conscriptions.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Last week, Russia’s state news agency TASS announced that the troop increase would be completed by 2026.

“Only by strengthening the key structural components of the Armed Forces is it possible to guarantee the military security of the state and protect new entities and critical facilities of the Russian Federation,” According to Reuters, Shoigu stated that.

A Leopard 2 Polish Army tank is seen alongside a soldier wearing camouflage in the vicinity of Pilsudski Square in Warsaw (Poland), 13 September 2022. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images).
(STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The US Abrams tanks pictured with the German Leopard at the training grounds in Nowa Deba in Nowa Deba, Subcarpathian Voivodeship (Poland) on September 21, 2022. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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The U.S. has yet to provide a timeline as to when tanks from Germany or the U.S. will arrive in Ukraine and be ready for operation.